Subfamily Myrmicinae Research Articles

Therapeutic Potential of Solenopsis invicta Venom: A Scoping Review of Its Bioactive Molecules, Biological Aspects, and Health Applications

Solenopsis invicta, a South American ant species from the Formicidae family (subfamily Myrmicinae), has recently established a stable settlement in Europe, raising public health concerns due to its venomous stings. The venom of S. invicta is rich in bioactive molecules, particularly piperidine alkaloids such as solenopsin A and peptides (Sol 1–4). These compounds have been implicated in various health applications, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antitumour activities. While previous reviews have focused on the ecological and allergenic risks posed by S. invicta, this scoping review aims to evaluate the potential therapeutic uses of S. invicta venom by summarizing existing scientific evidence and providing a novel synthesis of recent research on its bioactive components. Furthermore, this study, by describing the unique biological aspects of S. invicta, provides an overview of its direct impact on public health, highlighting new findings on the venom’s role in inhibiting bacterial biofilm formation and modulating cancer growth pathways through gene regulation. A search of databases (PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Cochrane Library) identified 12,340 articles, from which 11 studies met the eligibility criteria. These studies included seven microbiological investigations and four studies on tumour cell lines and animal models. The findings suggest that S. invicta venom could inhibit biofilm formation, combat fungal infections, and suppress tumour growth. However, further research, including clinical trials, is required to fully elucidate the safety and efficacy of these bioactive molecules in human medicine, for their potential use in drug discovery to counteract several diseases, including cancer.

Manica shanyii (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) is not Manica

The Holarctic genus Manica Jurine, 1807 are mysterious and primitive ants from the tribe Myrmicini of the subfamily Myrmicinae. A new species (Manica shanyii He et al., 2024) from China has recently been described, which was the first documented appearance of the genus and a new species in China. In this study, the key features of M. shanyii are compared with Manica species and the related genus Myrmica Latreille, 1804. Morphological features are demonstrated here, which makes it possible to divide two close genera Manica and Myrmica. After studying the specimens of this species, we transfer Manica shanyii He et al., 2024 to Myrmica shanyii (He et al., 2024), comb. nov. Also, to comply with the nomenclature rules, we propose to consider Manica parasitica (Creighton, 1934), syn. nov., as a junior synonym of Manica bradleyi (Wheeler, 1909).

Assessment of Ant (Hymenoptera : Formicidae) Diversity from Kuthuparamba Area of Kannur District, Kerala, India

Importance of ants in our ecosystem is well recognized. Abundance and stability make the ant population one of the most successful insect groups in the ecosystem. Present investigation was carried out to assess the ant diversity in Kuthuparamba region, Kannur District in Kerala state. Results showed 13 genera of ants representing three subfamilies. The subfamily Myrmicinae was found to be dominant with six genera followed by Formicinae with four genera and Ponerinae with three genera.

An Old World leaf-cutting, fungus-growing ant: A case of convergent evolution.

The African myrmicine ant Crematogaster clariventris is a territorially dominant arboreal species that constructs very hard carton nests. Noting that workers cut off leaves from different plant species while building or repairing their nests, we asked ourselves if there was a correlation. We conducted scanning electron microscopic observations of nest walls that revealed the presence of fungal mycelia. As the presence of filamentous Ascomycota has been shown on arboreal ant nests worldwide, we used a metabarcoding approach and, indeed, noted the presence of Operational Taxonomic Unit (OTU) Cre_006041 of the Capnodiales known to reinforce large nests of an unidentified African Crematogaster. This OTU was also recorded in the workers' bodies. At a very low level, we also noted OTU Cre_320021 of the Chaetothyriales known for their relationships with the African plant-ant species C.margaritae. Therefore, by cutting leaves and growing fungus, C.clariventris illustrates a case of convergent evolution with higher New World leaf-cutting, fungus-growing Attina of the genera Acromyrmex, Amoimyrmex and Atta. However, there are notable differences. Leaf-cutting Attina cultivate Agaricaceae (Basidiomycota) for food, whereas C.clariventris uses Capnodiales to reinforce their nests (i.e., after the mycelium died, the hyphae's cell walls remained sturdy forming a natural composite material), have a distinct geographical origin (i.e., New World vs. Old World) and belong to a distinct ant tribe in the subfamily Myrmicinae (i.e., Attini vs. Crematogastrini). Furthermore, leaf-cutting Attina evolved an efficacious means of cutting leaves by using their mandibles asymmetrically, whereas C.clariventris workers, typically, use their mandibles symmetrically.

The First Fossil Record of the Genus Manica Jurine, 1807 from Late Eocene Baltic Amber and Discussion of the Early Evolution of Myrmicini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae).

The Holarctic genus Manica Jurine, 1807 are mysterious and primitive ants from the tribe Myrmicini of the subfamily Myrmicinae. The first fossil species of this genus, †Manica andrannae Zharkov and Dubovikoff, sp. n. is described from the Baltic amber (ca. 33.9-37.8 million years ago). X-ray microcomputed tomography (µCT) was used to access morphological features and accurately measure the new species. A straightened and painted 3D model is also proposed as a reconstruction of the worker. The new species differs from all extant species of the genus by the propodeum with a weakly convex dorsum and short, blunt tubercles, and by more angular petiolar node. These features bring it closer to sister genus Myrmica Latreille, 1804. The phylogenetic relationships of the new species with other species of the genus are discussed. Based on the studied morphological features, the species is closest to the species Manica yessensis Azuma, 1955. The early evolution and paleobiogeography of the tribe Myrmicini are discussed. This finding confirms the origin of the genus Manica at least in the Eocene epoch.

Bioactivity Profiling of In Silico Predicted Linear Toxins from the Ants Myrmica rubra and Myrmica ruginodis.

The venoms of ants (Formicidae) are a promising source of novel bioactive molecules with potential for clinical and agricultural applications. However, despite the rich diversity of ant species, only a fraction of this vast resource has been thoroughly examined in bioprospecting programs. Previous studies focusing on the venom of Central European ants (subfamily Myrmicinae) identified a number of short linear decapeptides and nonapeptides resembling antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Here, we describe the in silico approach and bioactivity profiling of 10 novel AMP-like peptides from the fellow Central European myrmicine ants Myrmica rubra and Myrmica ruginodis. Using the sequences of known ant venom peptides as queries, we screened the venom gland transcriptomes of both species. We found transcripts of nine novel decapeptides and one novel nonapeptide. The corresponding peptides were synthesized for bioactivity profiling in a broad panel of assays consisting of tests for cytotoxicity as well as antiviral, insecticidal, and antimicrobial activity. U-MYRTX-Mrug5a showed moderately potent antimicrobial effects against several bacteria, including clinically relevant pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus epidermidis, but high concentrations showed negligible cytotoxicity. U-MYRTX-Mrug5a is, therefore, a probable lead for the development of novel peptide-based antibiotics.

First Cytogenetic Study Through Conventional Staining of The Ant Genus Blepharidatta Wheeler, 1915 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Attini)

Blepharidatta is a rare Neotropical ant genus in the Attini tribe of the subfamily Myrmicinae. It has only four valid species and among them Blepharidatta delabiei was recently described and there is little knowledge on its biology. This study is the first cytogenetic characterization for the genus Blepharidatta and also presents the biology of B. delabiei. Cytogenetic analyses revealed a karyotype 2n = 28 with acrocentric and metacentric chromosomes and a karyotypic formula (m: metacentric, a: acrocentric): 2K = 16m + 12a. We observed that ants of this species have diurnal habits with higher foraging activity in the afternoon and are possibly omnivorous as they accepted the baits used. The distance between colonies varied from 5 to 7 meters.

Diet composition of an escaped captive-born southern tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla) in a nonnative habitat in Asia.

Studies on the role of natural predatory instincts in captive‐born mammalian myrmecophagy are rare. Consequently, researchers rely extensively on case reports to learn more about the contexts in which predatory behavior occurs among such animals. In this study, we recorded an uncommon case of a captive‐born southern tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla) that accidentally escaped from a zoo into a nonnative habitat in Asia. The southern tamandua was found alive 3 months later. Two fresh fecal samples were obtained, and the diet composition was examined. Three termite species (one family, three genera), and 14 ant species (four subfamilies, nine genera) were identified in the fecal samples. The studied southern tamandua preyed on terrestrial and arboreal ants and termites, as the wild populations of its species do. Ants of the subfamily Myrmicinae and termites of the subfamily Nasutitermitinae were the most abundant prey items in the samples, which is consistent with related reports on the wild populations. Soldier ants constituted <1% of the prey items in the fecal samples, suggesting that the southern tamandua likely avoided preying on ants of the soldier caste. Fungus‐growing termites Odontotermes (Isoptera: Macrotermitinae), which are not native to neotropical regions, were also ingested by the southern tamandua. This study provides information on how a captive‐born mammalian myrmecophagy applies its natural feeding instincts in nonnative natural settings.

Myrmicine ants of Nepal with six new records and updated species list (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae)

Six ant species from the subfamily Myrmicinae are recorded as new to Nepal, namely Myrmica rhytida Radchenko &amp; Elmes, 1999, Myrmicaria brunnea Saunders, 1842, Pheidole nodus Smith 1874, Strumigenys godeffroyi Mayr, 1866, S. virgila Bolton, 2000, and Temnothorax wroughtonii (Forel, 1904). The type locality, examined materials, worker diagnosis, and global distribution of each newly recorded species are provided, along with images of habitus in profile and head in full-face views. The list of 69 species of Myrmicine ants is provided with their province-specific distribution in Nepal.

Diversity of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the mangrove patches of reclaimed Sunderbans, West Bengal, India

Ants are highly diverse social insects distributed in every terrestrial habitat except the north and south poles. Even though they are a dominant group in the mangrove ecosystem the study of ant diversity in Sunderbans mangrove, the world’s largest mangrove ecosystem is yet to start. The objective of this study was to understand the ant diversity in mangrove patches in the villages of Indian Sunderbans. Ants were collected from the reclaimed areas of Indian Sunderbans. Total of 35 species, 21 genera of ants belonging to 5 subfamilies were found in this study. The highest number of species was found in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Dilobocondyla gasteroreticulatus reported first time from West Bengal. Ant species Paratrechina longicornis, Crematogaster spp., Monomorium spp, Camponotus spp. and Tetraponera rufonigra were the most abundant species in the mangrove habitat. Most of the ants were found from the mangrove associate plant, Excoecaria agallocha. The ant species diversity index in this study is moderate (H'= 2.37), while the evenness index classified as moderate (E =0.5), and no species of ants dominate this area (D = 0.1).

Venomics of the Central European Myrmicine Ants Myrmica rubra and Myrmica ruginodis.

Animal venoms are a rich source of novel biomolecules with potential applications in medicine and agriculture. Ants are one of the most species-rich lineages of venomous animals. However, only a fraction of their biodiversity has been studied so far. Here, we investigated the venom components of two myrmicine (subfamily Myrmicinae) ants: Myrmica rubra and Myrmica ruginodis. We applied a venomics workflow based on proteotranscriptomics and found that the venoms of both species are composed of several protein classes, including venom serine proteases, cysteine-rich secretory protein, antigen 5 and pathogenesis-related 1 (CAP) superfamily proteins, Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitors and venom acid phosphatases. Several of these protein classes are known venom allergens, and for the first time we detected phospholipase A1 in the venom of M. ruginodis. We also identified two novel epidermal growth factor (EGF) family toxins in the M. ruginodis venom proteome and an array of additional EGF-like toxins in the venom gland transcriptomes of both species. These are similar to known toxins from the related myrmicine ant, Manica rubida, and the myrmecine (subfamily Myrmeciinae) Australian red bulldog ant Myrmecia gullosa, and are possibly deployed as weapons in defensive scenarios or to subdue prey. Our work suggests that M. rubra and M. ruginodis venoms contain many enzymes and other high-molecular-weight proteins that cause cell damage. Nevertheless, the presence of EGF-like toxins suggests that myrmicine ants have also recruited smaller peptide components into their venom arsenal. Although little is known about the bioactivity and function of EGF-like toxins, their presence in myrmicine and myrmecine ants suggests they play a key role in the venom systems of the superfamily Formicoidea. Our work adds to the emerging picture of ant venoms as a source of novel bioactive molecules and highlights the need to incorporate such taxa in future venom bioprospecting programs.

Morphology of immatures of the thelytokous ant, Monomorium triviale Wheeler (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Solenopsidini) with descriptions of the extraordinary last-instar queen larvae

The ant genus Monomorium is one of the most species-rich but taxonomically problematic groups in the hyperdiverse subfamily Myrmicinae. An East Asian species, M. triviale Wheeler, produces both reproductive queens and sterile workers via obligate thelytokous parthenogenesis. Here, we describe the immature forms of M. triviale based on light and scanning electron microscopy observations, with a note on the striking caste dimorphism in the last larval instar. The last-instar queen larvae were easily recognized by their large size, aphaenogastroid body shape, and rows of doorknob-like tubercles on the lateral and dorsal body surface. This type of queen-specific structure has not been found in ants in general, let alone congeneric species found in Japan. In stark contrast to the queen larvae, worker larvae showed a pheidoloid body shape and a body surface similar to other ants. The worker larvae were estimated to have three instars, consistent with previously described congeners. The pupae of both castes had no cocoon, a characteristic commonly described in other Myrmicinae species. In total, the developmental period from egg to adult worker averaged 59 days under 25C. We discuss possible functions of the tubercles of queen larvae based on previous studies.

Diversity of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the mangrove patches of reclaimed Sunderbans, West Bengal, India

Ants are highly diverse social insects distributed in every terrestrial habitat except the north and south poles. Even though they are a dominant group in the mangrove ecosystem the study of ant diversity in Sunderbans mangrove, the world’s largest mangrove ecosystem is yet to start. The objective of this study was to understand the ant diversity in mangrove patches in the villages of Indian Sunderbans. Ants were collected from the reclaimed areas of Indian Sunderbans. Total of 35 species, 21 genera of ants belonging to 5 subfamilies were found in this study. The highest number of species was found in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Dilobocondyla gasteroreticulatus reported first time from West Bengal. Ant species Paratrechina longicornis, Crematogaster spp., Monomorium spp, Camponotus spp. and Tetraponera rufonigra were the most abundant species in the mangrove habitat. Most of the ants were found from the mangrove associate plant, Excoecaria agallocha. The ant species diversity index in this study is moderate (H'= 2.37), while the evenness index classified as moderate (E =0.5), and no species of ants dominate this area (D = 0.1).

New locality records for ants in the coffee zone of Cundinamarca, Colombia

Shade coffee plantations harbor a great diversity of ants that in some cases have not been recorded. Therefore, it is important the information of their distribution both locally and regionally, five new records for the coffee region of Cundinamarca are related here, four species for the subfamily Myrmicinae with: Protalaridris armata, Nesomyrmex pittieri, Cyphomyrmex peltatus, Strumigenys pariensis and for the subfamily Proceratinae the species Proceratium colombicum.

Ant Abundance, identification and relation with cocoa pest attacks under several shade trees.

Ants are soil macrofauna that plays an essential role in preventing pods of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) from Helopeltis antonii and Conopomorpha cramerella attack. However, the method of those pests control primarily using pesticides and that will disturbed ant's life. This research aims to determine the abundance and diversity of ants in cocoa plantations with different shade and to determine the correlation between ant abundance and intensity of pest attack from Helopeltis antonii and Conopomorpha cramerella. Ants sample was carried out using pitfall traps and Berlese funnels based on purposive sampling method. The results showed that five subfamilies were found in cocoa plantations with different shade. Subfamily Myrmicinae was the dominant group in all observation sites. The ant abundance has a strong correlation with intensity of pest attack. This was influenced by a role of the ant as natural enemies from Helopeltis antonii and Conopomorpha cramerella.

Ant assemblages (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from areas under the direct influence of two small hydropower plants in Brazil

Current energy production has been the subject of studies on environmental impacts and the need to adequately understand that the relationship to biodiversity loss is growing. One of the ways of assessing environmental changes is the use of bioindicator species, and ants represent an alternative in this regard. This study aimed to evaluate ant assemblages occurring in different environments in areas under the direct influence of two small hydropower plants (SHPP). Sampling was carried out using pitfall traps in forest and agricultural fragments, as well as pasture areas, along the Andrada River, municipality of Cascavel, state of Paraná, in July 2016 and March 2017. The sampled ant assemblages were evaluated for richness, abundance, and composition. The rarefaction analysis was used to compare the richness sampled in the two areas under direct influence. Abundance was analyzed based on the number of occurrences. The nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) was applied to test whether the abundance and composition of ant assemblages differ at the same site when sampled in both seasons. In total, 63 species belonging to 23 genera and 6 subfamilies were identified. The subfamily Myrmicinae was the most speciesrich (S = 25), followed by the subfamily Formicinae (S = 21). The most species-rich genus was Camponotus (S = 15) followed by Pheidole (S =11). A total of 41.3% richness was registered concurrently in the two assemblages. The study contributes to the expansion of knowledge of the ant fauna occurring in the state of Paraná and serves as a basis for monitoring impacts caused by the implementation of SHPP and other developments.

Gut content metabarcoding of three widespread Iberian ant‐eating spiders reveals specialisation on the same abundant harvester ants

Abstract Trophic specialists often follow unique evolutionary pathways, show potential applications in biological control, and suffer from increased ecological vulnerability. The myrmecophagous spider genus Zodarion, highly diversified across the Mediterranean, is among the few predatory groups showing strict stenophagy. Most Zodarion species display narrow distributions, but a few of them occur across hundreds to thousands of kilometres, raising questions on the causes of their comparatively higher distributional success. In this study, through extensive geographic sampling and the metabarcoding of gut contents, we explored the diets of the three most widely distributed Iberian species of Zodarion: Zodarion alacre and the two lineages of Zodarion styliferum. Our data support the three species as strictly myrmecophagous, showing diets largely based on the granivorous Messor ants. Auxiliary prey includes other ants of the subfamilies Myrmicinae, Formicinae, and Dolichoderinae. The diet breadth of both Z. styliferum lineages was slightly narrower than that of Z. alacre, coinciding with their higher physiological and behavioural efficiency for predating on Messor. We discard that the relatively large distribution range of our three focal Zodarion species is related to breaking the boundaries of myrmecophagy, and instead argue that such success could be favoured by their specialisation on Messor ants, which are also abundant and widespread across the Iberian Peninsula.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Tetramorium tsushimae (Emery, 1925) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Tetramorium tsushimae (Emery, 1925) is an omnivorous ant species native to East Asia and has been introduced to North America. The mitochondrial genome of T. tsushimae is 19,207 bp in length with an A + T content of 81.3% and includes 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNAs, and a control region. This sequence data would play an important role in the investigation of mitochondrial evolution of the subfamily Myrmicinae.

Diversidad de especies de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) en bosque secundario y tres usos agrícolas de tierra en la costa pacífica colombiana

The study area pertains to the Chocó Biogeography, one of the most biodiverse areas in the world, where around 40,000 ha of rainforest has been cleared for oil palm plantations. We surveyed the ant species’ richness and diversity in four differently disturbed areas in Tumaco, Colombia, using pitfall traps and Winkler sacks. Study sites were two oil palm plantations of three- and seven- years’ existence, a peach palm plantation Bactris gasipaes of 20 years, and an area of secondary forest of 10 years. A total of 93 ant species or morphospecies, comprising 31 genera in 8 subfamilies were identified. The subfamily Myrmicinae had the highest number of species (57), followed by Ponerinae (10) and Formicinae (9). The hybrid palm oil plantations harbored 46 species (7 years) and 50 species (3 years), respectively, while the peach palm plantation was composed of 53 species, and the secondary forest had 62 species. Ectatomma ruidum was the most dominant species in the oil palm plots (≥ 80% of specimen), but significantly less in the peach palm and secondary forest. The most species-rich genera were Pheidole spp. (23) and Solenopsis spp. (13). No differences were observed in the ant species’ diversity between the secondary forest and peach palm, contrasting with the significant differences between the secondary forest and the two oil palm areas. A comparison with studies in natural areas suggests that the oil palm monocultures have dramatically reduced the species’ richness and that ten years of recovery does not bring back anything close to the original diversity.

Ant Diversity in Campus Universitas Negeri Padang, Padang, West Sumatra

Measuring biodiversity of ants in urban area is an essential part in management concept of invasive and tramp species. The aim of this study was to investigate ground-dwelling ant species diversity in the campus of Universitas Negeri Padang. Honey baited trap was applied to collect ants at two sites in this area. A total 11 species of ants belonging to 9 genera, 3 subfamilies were identified in the main campus of Universitas Negeri Padang. The highest diversity was by the subfamily Myrmicinae (with four genera, Monomorium, Pheidole, Solenopsis, Tetramorium), and followed by Formicinae (three genera, Nylanderia, Oecophylla, Paratrechina), and Dolichoderinae (two genera, Dolichoderus, Tapinoma). The location of campus Universitas Negeri Padang which is near the coastline and in the center of the city, have affected the biodiversity of ants. In the present study, invasive and tramp species were recorded in this area.